Olympic sprinter Shavez Hart.Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty
OlympianShavez Hartwas shot and killed outside of a Bahamas nightclub over the weekend,TMZ Sportsreported. He was 29 years old.
The shooting took place at roughly 2 a.m. on Saturday in the parking lot of a nightclub in Mount Hope, North Abaco, according to TMZ Sports. Police reported that Hart, a former sprinter for Texas A&M University, was shot in the chest while trying to break up a fight.
He was transported to the Marsh Harbor Clinic, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation remains ongoing as of Tuesday morning, but an arrest has been made in connection to the case, per TMZ Sports.
Paul Gilham/Getty
The Bahamas Olympic Committee issued a statement following Hart’s passing. “The Olympic family is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Shavez Hart, a proud native of Abaco. He was always very humble, yet proud and determined to offer the very best of himself for the sake of country.”
Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,Philip Brave Davis, addressed the shootingon social media. “On behalf of my family and the people of The Bahamas, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Shavez Hart. As a country, we’ve been blessed to have had an amazing athlete carry our flag worldwide. Ann and I will keep the family of Shavez in our thoughts and prayers.”
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Hart’s friends and former coaches honored the Olympian after the news broke. His former coach at Texas A&M, Pat Henry, said he was heartbroken over the loss.
“This is so tragic. Shavez Hart was of course one of our finest athletes ever, but he was one of the kindest people I have met, and such a soft-spoken man,” Henrysaid in a statement. “Words can’t describe the loss that the Aggie track and field family is feeling. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
“Waking up to absolutely devastating news that one of my former athletes Shavez Hart was shot and killed last night in the Bahamas,“wrote his former South Plains College coach, Blaine Wiley. “I had the honor of coaching ‘Sparkie’ at South Plains College where he remains the school record holder and won many NJCAA championships. RIP.”
World Athletic Center sprint coachStuart McMillancalled the tragedy “devastating.”
source: people.com
